THE JUNIORATE

THE JUNIORATE

The Juniorate is the period following the first Profession and leading up to the candidate’s Perpetual Profession / Priestly Ordination. It is a time for integral formation, and growth and affirmation in one's Pauline Religious Vocation. The professed junior at this stage prepares himself for the theoretical and practical mission of the Congregation (cfr CD, 125-130; RF, 218).

During this period the professed should have very profound experience of community life. His formation has to be very personalized, that means, he must take into account not only the general aspects of formation, but his quality to prepare himself gradually and in a manner more specific for his future activities in the Congregation.

The younger generations, in the concrete prospect of “starting today the Paulines of the future,” must be formed to “work in groups” and to accept “complementary specializations.” They have the right to be “informed and be formed” about economic and financial matters of the Congregation. Our Congregation that adopts communication to evangelize must ensure internal communication which creates communion among all. (cfr AGC X, 13.6 & 13.7).

Goals:

To foster, broaden and deepen the human, intellectual, spiritual and apostolic formation.

To develop one's personality and strengthen one's sense of belonging to the Congregation.

To recognize one's personal charism and to respond to the demands of one's specific vocation.

To prepare one to work in the formation, editorial, technical or diffusion sector of our mission.

To come up with initiatives and assume responsibilities.

To learn to collaborate with the Pauline Family, laity and cooperators.

To assess the suitability of the candidate for this way of life in a definitive way.

2. Programme:

Degree and Philosophical studies.

Regency.

Theological studies.

Degree and Philosophy:

The newly professed members will proceed to do their degree and philosophy courses together. This is a three-year programme that will award degree certificates in Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Philosophy (BPh) to those who complete the requirements of the course. During this period, the juniors will follow the regular curriculum of their studies and will involve themselves more in the activities and undertakings of the community.

The Programme Should Include the Following:

Degree studies.

Philosophy studies.

Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Specialization in computer programmes.

Study of the Church documents and documents of the Congregation.

Seminars on Pauline Spirituality and Charism.Course on interpersonal relationships.

Training in apostolic leaderships.

Programmed apostolic undertakings.

Learning new languages.

Juniors’ meet.

Vocation promotion.

Spiritual direction.

Retreat.

Renewal of vows.

2. Regency:

On completing degree and philosophical studies, junior will spend a year of regency for community and apostolic experiences. This year is meant to give a break from all the academic studies and to orient the junior towards one or different areas of our apostolate. The regent may spend the year in one of the communities of the province or in different communities according to the need. The aptitude of the individual and the need of the mission will be taken into account while assigning regents to different communities.

The Regency Programme Should Include the Following:

Apostolic undertakings.

Mission-oriented part-time studies.

Spiritual Direction.

Juniors’ meet.

Retreat.

Renewal of vows.

3. Theology:

The junior after spending a year of regency will take up their theological studies in one of the institutes of theology. He will follow the regular study curriculum of the institute. This is the last phase of formation before perpetual profession, diaconate and ordination to priesthood. By this time, he should be sufficiently matured in his human, intellectual, spiritual, emotional and apostolic formation and prepared to live the Pauline brotherhood or priesthood in its full understanding. The junior will also receive the minor orders of lector and acolyte before his perpetual profession.

The Theology Programme Should Include the Following:

Theology studies.

Study of the Church Documents.

Study of the documents from the Superior General and the Provincial.

Minor Orders.

Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Public speaking.

Specialized studies in view of our future mission.

Courses on journalism and social communication.

Seminars on Pauline Spirituality and Charism.

Adequate preparation for perpetual profession.

Learning basics of Italian language.

Programmed apostolic undertakings.

Spiritual Direction.

Juniors’ Meet.

Retreat.

Renewal of vows.

3. Evaluation (See Appendix II):

Note: For norms and procedures for renewal of the Profession, admission to Perpetual Profession and Promotion to the Sacred Orders, see CD nos. 131-155.

We celebrate the feast of our Founder, Blessed James Alberione. Along with my Team and all in the Provincialate, I join you spiritually to celebrate the event meaningfully. I pray that God our loving Father may shower his choicest blessings on all of us and on all the apostolic activities of our Province through the intercession of our beloved Founder.

Our Province has just celebrated the Chapter on the theme “Do everything for the Gospel”. Alberione employed all his energies to the spread of the Good News in all its forms with all means that were at his disposal. Though physically weak he was moved by the Spirit of God to leap in to the unknown for the sake of the Gospel. May the vision of our heavenly Founder inspire us to greater commitment in our mission. May his determination to do something noble to the men and women of his times challenge us to personal renewal and may his indomitable spirit inspire us to be and to do everything for the Gospel.

Have a wonderful and grace-filled celebration of the feast. Stay blessed always.

Kindly keep our Brothers in Nigeria in your special prayers. May the Good Shepherd be close to them during these days of pain, sorrow and loss.